Puntland has opened fresh discussions with the United Nations refugee agency over the future of refugees and families displaced from their homes, as the regional administration seeks lasting solutions to the challenges facing vulnerable communities.
The discussions took place on Tuesday, November 10, when Puntland Vice President Ilyas Osman Lugator received a delegation from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), led by the agency’s Deputy Representative for Somalia, Jing Song.
According to a statement from the Puntland presidency, the meeting centred on cooperation between the regional government and international humanitarian agencies, with particular attention given to finding durable solutions for refugees and internally displaced people.
Rather than focusing solely on immediate humanitarian assistance, the discussions placed emphasis on the longer-term challenges facing people who have sought refuge or been forced to abandon their homes.
Puntland’s leadership stressed that cooperation with international organisations, especially UNHCR, remained important in addressing the circumstances of these communities and identifying sustainable ways forward.
Lugator underscored the importance his administration attaches to working with humanitarian partners, recognising the role they play in supporting efforts to improve the situation of refugees and displaced populations.
The meeting also provided an opportunity for the two sides to discuss their cooperation in addressing displacement-related challenges across the region.
UNHCR’s participation was led by Jing Song, whose delegation met the vice president as part of the agency’s engagement with Puntland authorities on refugee and displacement issues.
The search for durable solutions is particularly important because displacement often leaves families facing prolonged uncertainty over where they can settle, rebuild their livelihoods and access essential services.
However, the Puntland presidency’s statement did not disclose specific programmes agreed upon during the meeting, the number of people expected to benefit from any interventions or a timeline for implementing new measures.
It also did not announce a new funding commitment or a formal agreement between the regional administration and UNHCR.